Sashless window



W. P. FRALEIGH Nov. 21, 1961 SASHLESS WINDOW 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 2, 1959 FIGB BY 'j l Nov. 21, 1961 w. P. FRALEIGH SASHLESS WINDOW 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2, 1959 FIG. 2

FIG. 4

JNVENToR. WMU/IM l? Ff? EIGH Nov. 21, 1961 w. P. FRALEIGH 3,009,215

sAsHLEss- WINDOW Filed Sept. 2, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. WILL/'AM R FFAA f6/9 United States Patent Chi/ce 3,009,215 SASHLESS WINDOW William P. Fraleigh, 27 Inglewood Drive, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Filed Sept. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 837,735 Claims priority, application Canada June 23, 1959 Claims. (Cl. 20-S2) This invention relates to structure in which at least one of two panels is slidable within a generally rectangular opening so as to cover or uncover a portion of the opening at will, and is particularly concerned with a sashless window having a window frame delining 1a window opening in which are positioned two sashless panels of glass, one of which is normally iiXed in position and the other of which may be slid horizontally between a closed and an open position in which a portion of the window opening is uncovered.

It will be obvious from a study of the accompanying description that the present invention is generally applicable to any employment wherein it is required to selectively cover and uncover an opening, such Ias in a showcase, and when so generally used comprises means defining a longitudinal downwardly opening groove in the structure Ibordering the upper edge of said opening, means defining a longitudinal upwardly facing groove in the structure bordering the lower edge of said opening, two panels positioned in said opening at least one of said panels being slidable in said grooves into side-by-side relationship with the other of said panels, and yieldingly resilient separator means carried `at least by said structure bordering the lower edge of said opening urging said slidable panel away from ilush engagement with said other panel.

It is anticipated, however, that the invention will find particular employment in a sashless window, 'and it is in this preferred form that the invention will now be discussed and described.

The wide-spread adoption of sashless windows attests to the economy and utility of this type of window. Since there are no sashes there is proportionately more light through any given sized window opening, and also the absence of the window sashes means that one of the more common sources of trouble, namely the jamming of the sash against the frame, is obviated. Sashless windows are cheaper to manufacture, easier to assemble, and simpler to install so that there is an appreciable saving lto the buyer.

Two problems eXist with the use of sliding sashless windows. The first is that in the closed position the window opening must be thoroughly sealed which means that there must fbe sealing engagement between the edge surfaces of the glass panes and the frame-work of the window and also between the two panes themselves at the vertical join line in the centre of the window. Secondly when the slidable pane is being moved to the open position there must be no frictional engagement between the two panes of glass, since otherwise the normal accumulation of dirt and gn't would rapidly mar the surface inish of the panes as they slide over one another.

A simple and eifective way of solving the sealing problem is to have the peripheral portions of the glass engage, in the nonnal manner, sealing strips positioned in inwardly facing grooves formed within the window frame, and to seal the centre line join by having the two panes of glass come into marginal overlapping engagement at the vertical centre line when the window is closed, providing a lock or other suitable means, operable to urge the two panes of glass together so that a good seal is provided between the two panes.

This latter type of seal means of course that the two panes, at least in the central overlapping portion must 3,009,215 Patented Nov. 21, 1961 share a common groove in both the upper and lower frame members. This in turn means that when the slidable pane is being moved to the open position, some means must be provided for positively separating the two panes of glass so as to obviate the above-mentioned undesir-able frictional engagement.

The chief solution to providing such positive means of separation propounded in the past has been to incorporate in the lower groove, structure projecting above the lower sur-face of the groove which separates the two panes. This means that a more complex tr-ack arrangement is necessary and also that care must Ibe exercised to keep the guide-ways clear.

Accordingly it is `an object of the present invention to provide a sliding sashless window, vwhich is sealed by having the panes come into overlapping engagement in the closed position of the Window, a tight seal being provided by means of a releasable locking mechanism urging the two panes together, which also includes yieldingly resilient means carried by at least the lower or sill frame member, effective to separate at least the lower edges of the two panes of glass when the lock is released and the slidable pane is moved to the open position.

When so formed in accordance Wit-h the present invention a sashless window comprises a window frame having upper, lower and two side frame members deiining a window opening, means dening a longitudinal downwardly opening groove in said upper frame member, means dening a longitudinal upwardly opening groove in said lower frame member, two panes of glass positioned in said window opening, at least one of said panes being slidable in said grooves in said upper and lower frame members into sideeby-side relationship with the other of said panes, and yieldingly resilient separator means carried at least by said lower frame member urging said slidable pane away from flush engagement with said other pane.

Where separation is only effected at the lower edge of the two panes, the two upper edges being permitted Vto remain in line contact, the separation is effective but the sealing engagement at the top edge is not completely satisfactory, since due to the need to be able to remove the panes of glass by lifting them out from the tracks it is necessary that t-he upper groove be somewhat wider than the two panes of glass.

It is a further object of the present invention therefore to provide a sashless Window in which positive separation is provided at both the upper `and 'lower edges of the two panes by yieldingly resilient separator means; positive sealing engagement being achieved by t-he use of locking means carried by both the upper and lo-wer frame members operable to urge the two panes into sealing engagement at Iboth the upper and lower edges at least over an overlapping marginal portion.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sashless window having track structure for the lower edge of the two panes wherein is formed a simple, upwardly facing groove, whose lower surface is uninterrupted by any separation projections, which surface slopes downwardly away from the xed pane so as to assist in the `separation of the two panes due to the pull of gravity urging the slidable pane down this sloping surface when the window is opened.

The above and other objects of the prese-nt invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which -is included by way of illustration and not of limitation. This description makes reference to the accompanying ligures in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a sashless window formed according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan View of the central portion of the lower track structure taken along line lll-II of FIGURE 1 with the two panes in the closed position;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view similar to FIGURE 2 except that the panes are in the open position;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-section in end elevation along the line IV-IV of FIGURE l of the lower tracking and locking structure showing both the prime and storm windows;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the spring-loaded separator preferably used in the present invention for separating the two panes of glass;

FIGURE 6 shows a cross-sectional plan View along the line VI-VI of FIGURE 5 showing the internal structure of the spring-loaded separator;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of the separator;

FIGURE 8 is a cross-section in end elevation along the line VIII-VIII of FIGURE 1 showing the central portion of the upper groove structure with the two panes in the closed position; and

FIGURE 9 is a cross-section view in end elevation similar to that of FIGURE 8 except that the two panes of glass vare in the open position.

Referring to FIGURE 1 it will be seen that the sashless window comprises a rectangular frame 1 having a rectangular opening formed therein which may be closed or partially uncovered at will by two panes of glass 6 and 7 positioned inside the frame. The frame consists of upper member 2, lower member 3, and side members 4 and 5, sometimes known in the trade respectively as the header, sill and jamb members.

The window is shown as it would normally be viewed from the inside of a room. `The outermost pane of glass 6 is normally fixed in position but may readily be removed for cleaning or replacement by virtue of the configuration of the upper and lower groove structure to be described later. Pane 7 is the innermost pane and as shown may be slid to the left in front of pane `6 so as to uncover the righthand portion of the opening.

Sliding of pane 7 is conveniently done by the member 9 which may either be a projection upstanding from the inner surface of pane 7, or alternatively an insert having a recess formed therein into which a finger may be inserted for moving the pane of glass. Member 9 is generally attached to the pane by drilling a hole through the glass and passing through this hole a flush headed screw to which the projection or insert is attached, the head of the screw being nearly flush with the outer surface of the pane 7 so that its projection above this surface does not in any way impede the movement of the sliding pane, nor does this projecting portion at any time come into contact with the fixed pane 6.

The most important feature of the present invention is the track structure supported upon the lower or sill frame member 3 and the separator means and lock carried by this track structure in the central region shown in plan view in FIGURES 2 and 3 and in cross-sectional elevation in FIGURE 4.

lReferring to these figures, it will be seen that the lower track structure 10 rests upon the downwardly and outwardly sloping upper surface 11 of the sill member 3, whose slope thus facilitates the runoff of any water passing through the usual drain holes (not shown) in the track structure 10. An upstanding tiange 3' at the innermost edge of the lower frame member 3 provides a positioning guide for the track structure 10 and also supplies a support for the shelf 14 running the length of the inner edge of the track 10.

Outwardly of the shelf 14 the track structure 10 dips to form an upwardly facing recess extending the length of the window, this recess being formed by two opposed vertical side surfaces 19 and 23 and the lower surface 113. A small projection 16 extending upwardly from the lower surface 13 divides the recess into two grooves 15 and 21, groove 15 having the two panes 6 and 7 positioned therein and being bounded by projection 16 and vertical surface 23, and the other groove 21 lbeing formed between the projection 16 and the side surface 19 and being free except for the lock member 18, to be described later.

As shown in FIGURE 4 the track structure 10 may include a second recess outwardly of the first and identical with the first in every way which may conveniently be used for guiding a storm window if one is provided. All the elements associated with the storm window recess are identical in every way with those of the first or prime window recess and the foregoing and ensuing description applies with equal validity to this second recess Whose elements have been denoted by the common suffix (1.

Outwardly beyond the storm window recess there is an L-shaped bracket 27 forming an upwardly facing groove 28 in which a screen may be positioned to give protection against insects and the like.

The two panes of glass 6 and 7 when in the closed position have a central overlapping portion 8 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. It will be seen that the fixed pane 6 rests against the rear vertical surface 23 of the groove 15 in the lower track structure on a substantially level portion 13 of the lower surface 13. The fixed pane 6 also fits linto a groove 12 in the upper frame member 2 in a manner to be described later, and at its outward edge tits in a snug fitting groove (not shown) in the side member 5 which retains (it in position. To prevent this fixed pane moving to the right, and also -to provide a sup port suiface for the 'slidable pane 7, a sealing strip 17 is attached to the vertical rear w-all 23 of the groove 15 commencing at the right-hand frame member 4 and terminating immediately -adjacent the fixed pane 6.

To urge the two panes of glass together so that a tight seal is provided in the overlapping marginal portion 8 of each pane -a lock 18 is provided attached by screws 22 to the shelf -14 and having depending arms 20 which support it on the inner groove 21.

An arm 24 extending inwardly from the lock 18 may be moved through an arc of approximately to advance or retract an arm 25. This arm 2S is equipped with a resilient rubber tip 26 which engages the inner surface of the slidable pane 7 pushing it into tight sealing engagement in the central portion with the other pane of `glass 6 and in the remainder of its outer edge against the sealing strip 17. This lock 18 is such that pressure on the outside face of the slidable pane 7 will not release the lock, such release only being effected by moving the handle 24.

When lock 18 [is released and the slidable pane of glass 7 slides past the fixed pane 6, there must, as stated above, be provided some means of separating the two panes of glass.

This separation is provided by the spring-loaded plunger 32 which extends from the housing 30 carried on sealing strip 17 by means of screws 31 opposite the slidable pane 7 and adjacent the fixed pane 6.

This separator unit 30 is such that the plunger 32 which is preferably made of a soft material such as plastic, but which could alternatively have a roller ball or other similar low friction tip engagement with the sliding pane is yielding and can retract into the housing 30 so that sliding pane 7 may be urged into flush engagement with the overlapping marginai portion 8 of the fixed pane 6 and also the inner surface of the sealing strip 17 when the lock 18 is applied, but has sufficient resilience, so that when the lock is released the plunger 32 pushes against the pane 7 separating it from the fixed pane 6 las it is moved to an open position.

The amount of extension of plunger 32 from the housing 30 should be sufficient to separate the two panes, and may be so far extended as to cause pane 7 to engage projection '16 in the lower groove.

It has been found however that by making the lower surface 13 of the groove 15 slope downwardly and inwardly, lie. away from the fixed pane 6, that the plunger 32 need not extend so far as is necessary to of itself direct the pane of glass 7 against the projection 16. It has been found sucient if the plunger urges the pane awaI from the fixed pane 6 a distance suilcient to place it on the sloping portion of the lower surface 13 of the groove 15. Thereafter as the slidable pane 7 is slid to the open position the natural gravity forces acting upon this slidable pane cause it to slide down the linclined surface 13 until `it comes into engagement with the stop 16. This arrangement has the Iadvantage that the plunger 32 does not actually engage the outer surface of the slidable pane 7 whilst the window is ybeing opened.

'Ihis downward slope to lower surface 13 also helps in keeping the two panes separated when the window is fully open, since in this position Ithere is some tendency for the inexperienced person to push on the projection 9 when the left hand edge of slidable pane 7 could come into engagement with xed piane 6. The downward slope of surface 13 resists `any such tendency.

The degree of slope of surface, it has been found, may usefully be from to 30 with the horizontal, the preferred angle being The separator 30 is shown in greater detail in FIG- URES 5, 6 and 7. On either side of a hollow casing 30 extend two flanges 35 having holes 36 drilled therein through which the mounting screws 31 may be inserted to hold the housing in place on the sealing strip 17. On the vertical outer face of the housing 30 opposite slidable pane 7 there is drilled a lholle 37 communicating with the chamber 33 formed inside this housing. Through this hole projects the plunger 32 in contact with the arcuate leaf-spring 34 which causes the plunger 32 to be yieldingly yet resiliently loaded, so that it will yield when the slidable piane 7 iis pressed against the plunger by means of the action of the lock 18, but lis resilient so that it will urge the two panes of glass apart when the lock is undone. The plunger 32, as shown in FIGURE 6, is provided with a laterally-projecting flange at the end thereof engaging spring 34, and such flange serves as a stop to prevent the plunger from being fully pushed out of, or withdrawn from, the housing 30'. Other separators such as a rubber plunger per se would be effective to perform the necessary yielding resilient function but it is `felt that such a type yof construction Iwould not stand up yas well under the repeated use to which lthe separator will be put in operation.

Thus it Will be seen that there has been provided by means of this yielding resilient separator yand the associated lock 'a reliable and effective means for placing the panes into sealing engagement when the window is closed land for separating the panes when the window is opened.

As has been pointed out by others it is only necessary to separate the lower edges of the two panes of glass and the remaining line contact between the two upper edges of the panes can be tolerated. However, though embraced within the scope of the present invention, this is not an entierly satisfactory solution since the width of the upper groove, in order to -facilitate insertion and removal of the panes of glass therein, must always be slightly greater than the total width of the two panes of glass in face-to-face engagement. 'Ihis means that there is always a small amount of play in the upper groove which must either be taken up with sealing strips or alternatively left as a possible source of drafts.

In FIGURES 8 and 9 there is shown a separator and sealing structure similar to that described above in connection with FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 which permits the two panes of glass to be placed in sealing engagement in the closed position of the window and which will separate the two panes when the slidable pane is moved relative to the fixed pane.

The upper edges of panes 6 and 7 are received in a downwardly facing groove 12 formed in the upper frame member 2. The lateral extent of this groove is such that it can accommodate panes 6 and 7 in a side-by-side relationship with pane 7 separated an appreciable distance 6 from pane 6. The depth of the groove is sufficient to allow each of the panes to be raised into this groove an ramount sufficient to enable the lower edge of each pane to clear the shelf 14 of the lower track structure 10 (see FIGURE 4), when the pane can be removed from the window.

As in the case of the lower edges of the panes, fixed pane 6 rests against the outer vertical surface of the groove 12 and a second sealing strip 38 extends from the termination of fixed pane 6 to the right-hand side of the window, this sealing strip 38 being mounted on an insert 39 so that it provides a sealing and supporting surface for slidable pane 7J co-eXtensive with the upper inner surface of xed pane 6, when the slidable pane 7 is in the closed window position.

Separation of the two panes is effected by a second separator 30 mounted by screws 31 on sealing strip 38 adjacent the fixed pane 6, this second separator 30 having a plunger 32', which is spring-loaded so as to provide the necessary yielding resilience to separate the panes when the window is open, and to allow them to be ybrought into sealing engagement when the window is closed and 5locked.

The upper lock 40 is a simpler device than the lower lock mechanism 18 since it does not need to have the tamper-proof feature incorporated in the lower lock mechanism.

Thus the upper lock may conveniently be a block 40 of a suitable light-weight metal such as aluminum which is mounted on the lower inner surface of the upper frame member 2 by means of a screw 44 passing into the frame 2 through the plate 45 on which the lblock 40` swivels.

The block 40 may be swivelled by a handle 4'1 which brings a projection 42 integral with the block 40 in and out of engagement with the inner surface of the slidable pane 7. The projection 42 is equipped with a tip 43 of a suitable soft material such as plastic so that no damage will result to the inner surface of the pane 7 by virtue of projection 42 pressing against it.

FIGURE 8 shows the upper groove arrangement when the lock 40 is closed, pane 7 is pressed in tight sealing engagement against pane 6 over the marginal portion 8, and the plunger 32' of the upper separator 30 is pushed in, and FIGURE 9 shows the upper groove arrangement when the lock 40 is open and the two panes 6, 7 are separated by the plunger 32 of the upper separator 30.

Other embodiments and modifications may be devised within the scope of the present invention which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A sashless window comprising a vertically disposed window frame including upper, lower and two side frame members defining a substantially rectangular window opening, means defining a downwardly opening groove in said upper frame member extending the length thereof, track structure carried by said lower frame member, means defining an upwardly opening groove in said track structure extending the length thereof, two panes of glass positioned in said window opening having their upper and lower edges respectively in said grooves in said upper frame member and said track structure, one of said panes being normally fixed to one side of said opening and having one side edge thereof contiguous with one of said side members of said fixed pane and one surface flush with a like side surface of said grooves, sealing strips in both said grooves joined to said like side surface of said grooves, commencing adjacent said fixed pane and extending along said groove to the other side member, and having a sealing surface facing inwardly of said groove coextensive with the other surface of said fixed pane, the other of said panes being slidable on the bottom surface of said groove in said track structure from a rst position wherein said slidable pane has one side edge thereof contiguous with said other side member, one surface facing said sealing strips, and a vertical marginal portion adjacent the other side edge thereof in overlapping relationshipy with a like marginal portion adjacent said other side edge of said fixed pane whereby to close said window opening, to a second position wherein said slidable pane is in sideby-side relationship with said fixed pane and a portion of said window opening otherwise closed by said slidable pane is uncovered whereby to open a portion of said opening, a separator carried by said track structure opposite said slidable pane and adjacent said other edge of said xed pane, having a spring-loaded plunger yieldably urging said slidable pane out of engagement with said fixed pane at the lower edge thereof, and locking means carried by said track structure opposite said marginal portion operable to engage the other surface of said slidable pane whereby to urge and hold said two panes in sealing engagement at least over said marginal portion when Said window opening is closed.

2. A sashless window according to claim l wherein said bottom surface of said groove in said track structure has a downward slope away from said fixed pane whereby to cause said slidable pane to gravitate away from said fixed pane when being slid passed said fixed pane.

3. A sashless window comprising a vertically disposed window frame including upper, lower and two side frame members defining a Substantially rectangular window opening, means defining a downwardly opening groove in said upper frame member extending the length thereof, means defining an upwardly opening groove in said lower frame member extending the length thereof, two panes of glass positioned in said window opening having their upper and lower edges respectively in said grooves in said upper and lower frame members, one of said panes being normally fixed to one side of said opening and having one side edge thereof contiguous with one of said side members, the other of said panes being horizontally slidable in said grooves, from a first position wherein said slidable pane has one side edge thereof contiguous with the other of said side members and a vertical marginal portion adjacent the other side edge thereof in over-lapping relationship with a like marginal portion adjacent the other side edge of said fixed pane whereby to close said window opening, to a second position wherein said slidable plane is in side-by-side relationship with said fixed pane and a portion of said window opening otherwise closed by said slidable pane is uncovered, whereby to open a portion of said opening, first separator means carried by said lower frame member opposite said slidable pane and adjacent the other side edge of said fixed pane having a spring loaded plunger urging said slidable pane out of engagement with said fixed pane at the lower edge thereof, and first locking means carried by said `lower frame member opposite said marginal portion and operable yto bring said two panes into sealing engagement over said marginal portion when said `'ndow opening is closed.

4. A sashless window according to claim 3 which further includes second separator means carried by said upper frame member opposite said slidable pane and adjacent said other edge of said fixed pane having a spring loaded plunger urging said upper edges of said two panes out of engagement, and second locking means carried by Said upper frame member opposite said marginal portion operable to urge said upper edges of said panes into engagement with one another when said window opening is closed.

5. A sashless window according to claim 3 wherein said separator means comprise a hollow casing carried by said frame member, means defining an opening in said casing opposite said slidable pane, a plunger freelyl slidable in said opening and projecting outwardly therethrough, a stop on said plunger effective to prevent said plunger from being wholly projected from said housing, and an arcuate leaf spring member in said casing resiliently urging said plunger to project from said housing through said opening.

6. A sashless window comprising a vertically disposed window Aframe including upper, lower and two side frame members defining a substantially rectangular `window opening, means defining a downwardly opening groove in said upper frame member extending the length thereof, means defining an upwardly opening groove in said lower frame member extending the length thereof, two panes of glass positioned in said window opening having their upper and lower edges respectively in said grooves in said upper and lower frame members, one of said panes being normally fixed to one side of said opening and having one side edge thereof contiguous with one of said side members, the other of said panes being horizontally slidable in said grooves, from a first position wherein said slidable pane has one side edge thereof contiguous with the other of said side members and a vertical marginal portion adjacent the other side edge thereof in overlapping relationship with a like marginal portion adjacent the other side edge of said fixed pane whereby to close said `window opening, to a second position wherein said slidable pane is in side-byside relationship with said fixed pane and a portion of said window opening otherwise closed by said slidable pane is uncovered, whereby to open a portion of said opening, first separator means carried by said lower frame member opposite said slidable pane and adjacent the other side edge of said fixed pane having a spring loaded plunger urging said slidable pane one of engagement with said fixed pane at said `lower edge thereof, said bottom surface `of said groove in said lower frame member having a downward slope away from said fixed pane whereby to cause said lower edge of said slidable pane on being slid past said lower edge of said fixed pane to gravitate away therefrom.

7. A sashless window according to claim 6 wherein said downward slope of said bottom surface is between five and thirty degrees to the horizontal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,530,724 Pierson Nov. 2l, 1950 2,700,801 Pierson Feb. l, 1955 2,838,147 Downs June l0, 1958 

